Levitate by Kaylee Ryan

look at her without the insecurity in her eyes. It’s like she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can see there is something there and I can admit that I want to know what it is. But it’s an admission that I’m not ready to voice outside of my head.
    A tendril of hair has fallen across her eyes and she bats at it with her hand. I reach over and gently tuck it behind her ear. I softy run my thumb across the dark circles under her eyes. How did I miss that?
    “She doesn’t sleep well sometimes.” Nicole’s whispered voice has me dropping my hand and turning to face her. “It’s her story to tell; hell, I don’t even know all of it. She hides it well, but it’s there.” She points to Kensington. “She doesn’t have her guard up when she’s sleeping.”
    I can see that. I turn back to Kensington, watching her sleep.
    “I’m not sure what brought you here today,” Nicole starts, but I don’t turn back to face her, “but I know she can’t take any more heartbreak. Please don’t play games with her.” Her voice is pleading.
    “He doesn’t play games, babe. Just because he doesn’t do commitment doesn’t mean he’s out to hurt her,” Brighton defends me.
    Hearing her plea, asking me to never hurt Kensington, sparks something in me. Never. I would never do anything to hurt her. Turning to face them, I admit, “I won’t hurt her. I could never.” I shake my head. I don’t know what this is, this feeling, but I want to protect her. The thought that someone has hurt her, or would hurt her, does not sit well with me. I turn back to Kensington, taking in her sleeping form and something inside my chest swells. I whisper the words, “She’s different.” They fall out of my mouth and I realize it’s true.
    “I can see that. Tread lightly, man,” Brighton warns me. I know he’s all in with Nicole and he doesn’t want his girl upset. I get that, I do. However, it was me and him first; he knows me better than that.
    I focus my gaze back on the movie. I’m not paying attention, but pretend to be. The conversation needed to end. I’m done talking about it, about her, about my feelings. She’s different. I said the words and meant them, but fuck me if I know what it means.
    When the credits roll, I’m ready to head home. There are so many things jumbled around in my head; I just need to clear my mind. Nicole yawns and Bright takes that as the cue that we need to head out. I look over at Kensington and her neck is bent at an awkward angle. She can’t sleep like that all night.
    Without another thought, I climb to my feet, lean down, and scoop her up in my arms. Her head rests against my shoulder and she burrows her face into my neck. “What the hell are you doing?” Nicole asks. Her voice is alarmed.
    Brighton answers for me. He’s knows me all too well. “Babe, she can’t sleep like that all night. She looked uncomfortable as hell. Instead of waking her, he’s taking her to her bed. You said yourself she doesn’t sleep well.”
    She turns to look at me, Kensington in my arms. “It’s the—” I turn toward the hall.
    “I know,” I whisper the words, not wanting to wake her up. I walk slowly down the hall to her room. Pushing the door open with my foot, I stalk to her bed and lay her down gently. She rolls to her side, facing me, and curls up into a ball. I, again, tuck her wayward curls behind her ear, pulling the cover up over her. Even though I know I shouldn’t, I can’t resist kissing her on the forehead. When I pull back, her eyes flutter open.
    “Max,” she whispers groggily. She never calls me Max. Always Maxton.
    “Shh, go back to sleep. I just didn’t want you to get a kink in your neck from the couch.” I keep my voice soft and low.
    “You scare me.” Her voice is soft. I can tell she’s still half asleep.
    At her words, I drop to my knees beside the bed. I run my fingers over her hair. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    “No, you scare me,” she says